Hyundai patents speed bump detection technology

Hyundai has filed a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office for a speed bump detection system, comprising GPS, camera and multiple sensors that identify and measure an oncoming speed bump’s height, width and curvature. If the vehicle is going too fast, a warning message is sent to the driver to slow down.

According to the patent, the system specifies 30 km/h or less for bumps on standard roads measuring 3.6 metres long and 100 mm high, the same speed for bumps on local roads measuring two metres long and 75 mm high, and 10 km/h or less for bumps on housing area roads measuring one metre long and 75 mm high. It can even recognise ‘fake’ bumps (like a picture of a speed bump painted on the road) and ignore them.

You may deem this pretty unnecessary, but given the number of bumps of inconsistent height, width and shape popping up on so many blind bends in Malaysia with ‘Bump Ahead’ signs often hidden behind trees (or covered with ‘Tukar Tiub Tayar‘ stickers), I’d find this a boon, really. And think about what it could do for autonomous self-driving cars in the future!

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

If our cars don’t hit speed bumps and pot holes every day then we are not Malaysians.
If our cars don’t get damaged (under carriage, Exhaust pipe, Oil Sumps, bearing, drive shaft) by speed bumps and pot holes once in a while then we are not Malaysians.

You can either post as a guest or have an option to register. Among the advantages of registering is once a name has been registered, a guest cannot post using that name. If you have an account, please login before commenting. If you wish to have a profile photo next to your name, register at Gravatar using the same e-mail address you use to comment.